LOCAL MSP WELCOMES £10 MILLION BOOST FOR REGENERATION PROJECTS

Ruth Maguire, SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, has welcomed the news that Irvine is one of four areas, along with Clackmannanshire, Fife, and Hawick, to receive support from the Scottish Government’s recently announced £10 million Local Economic Development fund.

These funds will be used to deliver a variety of business infrastructure projects across the country, including a new industrial business space in the Irvine Enterprise Area and an enterprise hub in Kincardine.

Commenting on the Scottish Government’s announcement, Ruth said:

‘As Tory austerity continues to bite, and in the face of the additional pressures and business uncertainty caused by Brexit, I welcome the commitment of this Government to supporting local businesses and growth in Cunninghame South and across Scotland.

The £1.675 million allocated to Irvine will provide new and quality space and accommodation, as well as road and utility expansion, to attract investment from the life and chemical sciences sector to the Irvine Life Science Enterprise Area.

By creating 3000 square metres of business space and bringing 2.5 hectares of land back into use, this funding paves the way for the Irvine Enterprise Area to further flourish and grow – and I am delighted to see the Scottish Government recognise and support Irvine’s potential’

Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Paul Wheelhouse said:

‘As was made clear in the Programme for Government, we wanted to introduce measures to boost business confidence and keep our economy moving. I’m pleased to now be able to confirm the four areas that will receive a share of the £10 million, I have no doubt that these projects will help to drive our economy and provide a real benefit to people across the country.

In the wake of the EU referendum, we have committed to protecting Scotland’s interests, particularly our economic interests. We have been working to ensure that money reaches businesses, communities and individuals where it is most needed. Local businesses can be the engines of our economy and strong local economies are crucial to our success.’